Analysis of Safety and Efficacy of Intragastric Balloon in Extremely Obese Patients

Abstract

Background

The implantation of an intragastric balloon constitutes a short-term effective non-surgical intervention to lose weight. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the clinical outcome and safety of gastric balloon therapy (GBT) in extremely obese patients.

Results

A significant reduction in patients’ weight and BMI was evident after GBT. Regarding safety, no major complications occurred. Minor complications at balloon placement and removal occurred in one (0.9%) and three patients (2.8%) respectively. Mean duration of GBT was 177.6 ± 56.8 days. After GBT, the mean weight loss was 26.3 ± 15.2 kg (p < 0.001) and the mean BMI reduction was 8.7 ± 5.1 kg/m2 (p < 0.001) representing a mean percentage of excess BMI lost (%EBL) of 19.7 ± 10.2. The highest BMI loss was observed in patients with BMI > 80 kg/m2. A noteworthy improvement of comorbidities in 56.8% of the patients was also noted. Of the 109 patients, 69 received subsequent bariatric surgery. All the procedures were performed laparoscopically. Ten patients, with a mean BMI of 68.6 ± 10.6 kg/m2 after the removal of the first BIB, received a second BIB resulting in a non-significant weight and BMI loss of 6.3 ± 9.4 kg and 1.8 ± 2.9 kg/m2, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study indicates the safety and efficacy of GBT in extremely obese patients particularly as a first step before a definitive anti-obesity operation. GBT appears to be a safe, tolerable, and potentially effective procedure for the initial treatment of morbid obesity.

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